Key Takeaways:
- The Venezuelan government has accused the US of carrying out a "grave military aggression" against multiple parts of the country, including the capital Caracas.
- A CNN team witnessed several explosions and heard the sounds of aircraft early Saturday in Caracas, with some areas of the city left without electricity.
- The cause of the explosions is unclear, but the Venezuelan government has condemned the incident and signed a state of emergency.
- The US has not yet responded to requests for comment on the explosions.
- The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela, with the US having carried out a drone strike on a port facility in Venezuela in December.
Introduction to the Incident
The Venezuelan capital Caracas was rocked by several explosions early Saturday, with a CNN team witnessing the blasts and hearing the sounds of aircraft in the area. The explosions were reported in multiple locations, including Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. The Venezuelan government was quick to condemn the incident, accusing the US of carrying out a "grave military aggression" against the country. The government has signed a state of emergency and ordered all national defense plans to be implemented "at the appropriate time and under the appropriate circumstances."
The Explosions and Their Aftermath
The first blast witnessed by the CNN team was recorded at approximately 1:50 am local time, with several areas of the city left without power. CNN journalists in the area reported hearing the sound of aircraft after the explosions, and one video obtained by CNN showed two plumes of smoke rising into the night sky amid city lights. The cause of the explosions is unclear, but the incident has caused significant disruption in the city. Venezuelan news outlets reported that explosions were also heard in La Guaira state north of Caracas and on the country’s coast, and at Higuerote, a city on the coast in Miranda state.
International Reaction
The president of neighboring Colombia, Gustavo Petro, called for the United Nations to "meet immediately" following the reports of the explosions. Petro wrote on social media that "they are bombing with missiles" and that the Organization of American States and the UN must meet immediately. However, Petro did not specify how he knew bombing had occurred or who was responsible. The US has not yet responded to requests for comment on the explosions, with the White House, the State Department, the Pentagon, and US Southern Command all declining to comment.
US-Venezuela Relations
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela, with the US having carried out a drone strike on a port facility in Venezuela in December. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that the US is preparing to take new action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela, and has ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving the country. Trump has also authorized the CIA to operate inside Venezuela to clamp down on illegal flows of migrants and drugs from the South American nation. The US has also destroyed more than 30 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean as part of a counter-narcotics campaign.
The US Response
The US has not yet responded to requests for comment on the explosions, but Trump has been vocal about his intentions to take action against Venezuela. During a Christmas Eve phone call to troops aboard the USS Gerald Ford, which Trump recently ordered deployed to the Caribbean Sea, Trump called the region an "interesting place" to be and said the US would be "going after the land." Trump has also said that he authorized the CIA to operate inside Venezuela to clamp down on illegal flows of migrants and drugs from the South American nation. The CIA carried out a drone strike in December on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela, marking the first known US attack on a target inside the country.
Conclusion
The incident in Caracas has caused significant concern and has heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has condemned the incident and has signed a state of emergency, while the US has not yet responded to requests for comment. The cause of the explosions is unclear, but the incident is likely to have significant implications for the region. As the situation continues to develop, it is likely that there will be further updates and reactions from the US and Venezuelan governments, as well as from the international community.